The next 40 years

Although having barely begun, my term as Editor-in-Chief of the JBP has been a time of intense learning.^a It is quite interesting to reflect upon the evolution of the JBP since its founding 40 years ago.

Organizing ourselves as a scientific society concerned with the field of pulmonology was the impetus for the creation of a journal initially designed to disseminate knowledge related to that field and to strengthen us as a scientific community-incredibly, the journal continues to embody the essence of that original mission. The setting, however, has changed considerably. Given the incipient nature of respiratory science in Brazil at that time, the journal initially published articles that had already appeared in international journals, translating them to Portuguese for our national readership. As the field of pulmonology in the country developed, the JBP grew and came to be more representative of its readers. During that transitional phase, the forward thinking of the editors allowed the JBP to be indexed for various databases and even to obtain the bibliometric indices by which it can be compared with other journals in the field.⁽ 1 ⁾

During these last 40 years, our scientific society has also become stronger. The Brazilian Thoracic Association (BTA) began to develop its own guidelines, covering not only what is supported by the most robust scientific evidence but also taking into account aspects specific to Brazil in order to make them applicable in our country. ⁽ 2 ^, 3 ⁾ Several members of our society have come to be considered international authorities in their fields, the Editorial Board of the JBP itself is a reflection of that..

The field of respiratory science has now become firmly established in Brazil, a fact that is well represented by the BTA. Based on that fact, as well as on the fascinating trajectory of the JBP-as recounted by its former Editors-in-Chief-the current issue commemorates the first 40 years of the JBP.

I have begun to wonder what we want for the future; what kind of JBP do we want to have in the next 10, 20, or 40 years? One thing is certain: there is no simple answer. The JBP has several missions before it, and the setting in which it must complete those missions has become more complex. Its role in the dissemination of knowledge in the field of pulmonology is clear, but that role is now no longer limited to Brazil. It also plays an obvious role in promoting respiratory science at the national level, although that has become quite competitive in recent decades, which should be seen as good news. Therefore, there is a need for constant pondering. We must pursue the most recent advances in respiratory medicine without ceasing to be a portal for younger researchers who are still inexperienced in the art of presenting their findings, as well as creating an absolutely scientific environment within which they can discuss their studies with their peers.

We have to increase our international presence without losing the base that sustains us as a regional journal.⁽ 4 ^, 5 ⁾ In that respect, there is a niche to be filled. If we look at all the scientific journals in the field of respiratory science, we see that there is only a small number of generalist journals with an impact factor of approximately 2.0. That number is further restricted if we consider only the journals that do not charge for access to their content or for paper submission, a standard we intend to maintain for several years to come. Our efforts therefore need to be directed to reach such a level that this exposure places us in an unequivocally prominent position ahead of other journals. Reviewing the editorials that precede this one, I see how far we have come. Audacious goals are realistic only if approached from a solid foundation. Over these last four decades, such a foundation was built by tireless teams of JBP staff members, captained by their respective Editors-in-Chief. It would be unfair to try to name them all, because I would certainly (although unintentionally) fail to mention someone. Therefore, I congratulate here all of the former Editors-in-Chief on what has been constructed, extending my congratulations to all those who assisted them. I also congratulate the current associate editors, without whom it would not be possible to plan future conquests. Finally, my congratulations go out to the entire editorial staff, with special recognition to the group of editorial assistants who made and make possible the day-to-day functioning of the JBP, excelling in maintaining the quality of the Journal throughout the process. It is all of those people, collectively, who have made and continue to make the JBP the reference that it is today. Happy 40th, JBP!